Editor's Note: The Student Press Law Center signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief from the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida arguing for greater transparency in public schools and against overly broad usage of FERPA to block what should be public information. The following is an excerpt from a story by the… Continue reading In a win for transparency, Pennsylvania court orders release of school bus surveillance video
Arkansas high school paper republishes censored story, but prior review and threat to adviser’s job remain
ARKANSAS — An Arkansas school district drew national criticism after it apparently broke state law by censoring the paper and halting its publication. The district also announced it would implement prior review. Springdale Public Schools backtracked and allowed online publication of the censored story and editorial, but significant obstacles remain unresolved. The Student Press Law… Continue reading Arkansas high school paper republishes censored story, but prior review and threat to adviser’s job remain
University of North Alabama President addresses censure over ousted student media adviser
12/10/2018 UPDATE: The President of the University of North Alabama, Kenneth Kitts, called College Media Association's censure an “effort to conflate an academic decision… with an attack on the First Amendment.” Kitts' Dec. 6 statement to the UNA faculty senate said CMA’s censure has given rise to “sensational headlines” about the university and its administration,… Continue reading University of North Alabama President addresses censure over ousted student media adviser
SPLC spearheads coalition to fight censorship incident in Arkansas
An Arkansas school district censored a high school student newspaper, halted its publication and put it under a prior review policy in response to an investigative story and editorial about the transfer of six football players to a rival high school. The Har-Ber Herald's story was factual and reflected thorough reporting, including the use of… Continue reading SPLC spearheads coalition to fight censorship incident in Arkansas
Censored editorial: Hear me roar
Har-Ber Herald wrote a staff editorial criticizing a football coach in their district, players and the district itself.
Censored story: Athletes transfers in question
Har-Ber Herald spent months investigating football players who transferred school, possibly breaking district policy.
Meet the South Dakota student pushing state legislators for student press freedom
The story is from The Lead, a weekly newsletter for student journalists in college and high school, created by Taylor Blatchford. Subscribe here. Only 14 states have laws protecting press freedom for student journalists, and Gage Gramlick hopes to make South Dakota the 15th. Gage is a senior at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls,… Continue reading Meet the South Dakota student pushing state legislators for student press freedom
Paid journalism internships in reporting, radio, video and more are open now
December 3 Student Press Law Center (Washington D.C.) Spring 2019 Reporting internship – Interns will report breaking news on complex legal topics with longer-form storytelling on SPLC.org, its social media platforms, and thrice-yearly magazine. Interns will work on multiple stories concurrently. Most will center on the intersection of law, journalism, and education. Interns will help… Continue reading Paid journalism internships in reporting, radio, video and more are open now
Hundreds of issues of the Maroon-News stolen, members of swim team found responsible
NEW YORK — Hundreds of copies of the Maroon-News, the student newspaper at Colgate University — which contained a front page story about the men's swimming and diving team being suspended for hazing — have been stolen. The paper was distributed on the Hamilton campus on Oct. 18, and the next day stacks were missing… Continue reading Hundreds of issues of the Maroon-News stolen, members of swim team found responsible
Ask SPLC: Can I use an illegally recorded conversation?
Q: If a source provides me with an illegally recorded conversation or other piece of documentation illegally obtained, can I use the information in my article? A: It depends. If you and your media outlet did not ask your source to obtain the material illegally or otherwise take part in its acquisition, and if you received the… Continue reading Ask SPLC: Can I use an illegally recorded conversation?